Staghorn sumac plant named ‘Bailtiger’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct highly ornamental cultivar of  Rhus typhina  is provided. This Staghorn Sumac plant displays a dwarf, compact and spreading growth habit with a somewhat flat crown. Attractive chartreuse green foliage initially is formed that quickly largely changes to bright yellow. Predominantly yellow foliage is displayed in the fall together with some scarlet coloration. During observations to date the plant has been relatively free of insect and disease problems. The plant is well-suited for providing distinctive colorful ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical commercial classification: Rhus typhina/Staghorn Sumac Shrub.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Bailtiger’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Staghorn Sumac shrub of the present invention was discoveredduring July 1985 while growing in a block of Rhus typhina ‘Laciniata’plants (non-patented in the United States) in a cultivated nurserysetting at St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A. The distinctive bright yellow foliageand the diminutive growth habit of the plant were considered to besignificant and the plant was preserved for further testing andevaluation. This observed distinctive combination of characteristics wasdetermined not to be the result of abnormal soil conditions. The newcultivar is believed to be a whole plant mutation of unknown causationof the ‘Laciniata’ cultivar. Had this single plant of the new cultivarnot been discovered and preserved it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that this new Rhus typhina cultivar exhibits the followingcombination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a dwarf growth habit,    -   (b) forms attractive chartreuse green new foliage that quickly        largely changes to bright yellow, and in the fall displays        predominantly yellow foliage with some scarlet coloration,    -   (c) is relatively free of insect and disease problems, and    -   (d) is well-suited for growing as a distinctive ornamental shrub        in the landscape.

The new cultivar of the present invention provides a pleasing andcolorful display or ornamentation. The vegetation is vigorous, bold andarchitectural. The plant can be grown to advantage as a specimen shrubor as a mass planting. It also can be used to provide coloration behinda shrub or perennial border planting. The plant performs best in sunnysetting and once established is relatively drought tolerant. The planthas been found to be relative hardy and to suitable for growing inU.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 4 to 8.

Typical Rhus typhina plants form dissimilarly colored medium green newfoliage that changes to bright medium green during the summer with theleaflets being lance-oblong in configuration with a serrate margin. Themature height and spread of the species commonly is approximately 3.7 to4.6 meters. This can be compared to a typical mature height and spreadfor the new cultivar of only approximately 1.8 meters. The leafletcoloration and overall plant size can be used to well differentiate thenew cultivar of the present invention. The new cultivar additionallydisplays a relatively tight growth habit that can be distinguished fromthe more loose growth habit that commonly is displayed by the species.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its parent ‘Laciniata’ cultivar in view of the atypical colorationof the foliage and the dwarf growth habit. More specifically, the‘Laciniata’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States) formsconsistently green new foliage, and lacks a dwarf growth habit. Theheight of the ‘Laciniata’ cultivar commonly is approximately 2.5 m andthe spread commonly is approximately 3 to 4.6 m. The leaflets of the newcultivar are lanceolate in configuration and irregularly incised withdeeper incision towards the base while the leaflets of the ‘Laciniata’cultivar tend to be more finely incised. Also, the new cultivar isbelieved to be spread by suckers at a slower rate, and to form moreyellow and less orange-red fall foliage coloration.

The ‘Dissecta’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States) formsdissimilar leaflets that are pinnately dissected producing a finertexture.

The new cultivar of the present invention has been asexually propagatedby the rooting of cuttings at St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A. The distinctivecharacteristics of the new cultivar have been found to be stable and tobe capable of transmission from one generation to another following suchasexual propagation at St. Paul, Minn.

The new cultivar of the present invention has been named ‘Bailtiger’,and is being marketed under the TIGER EYES trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as true as reasonably possible tomake the same in color illustrations of this character typical plants ofthe new cultivar. The plants were propagated by the rooting of cuttingsand were photographed when approximately two and three years of agewhile growing outdoors at St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 shows the attractive chartreuse green young foliage.

FIG. 2 shows a closer view of the young chartreuse green foliage wheremore detail can be observed.

FIG. 3 shows from a distance a mass of the vigorous plant vegetationwherein the foliage has largely assumed more yellow coloration. Thepurplish coloration of the rachis also is shown.

FIG. 4 shows a closer view of the largely yellow foliage and thepurplish coloration of the petioles and rachis.

FIG. 5 shows mature leaflets in the fall that are predominantly yellowand include some scarlet coloration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. Common termsare to be accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. Thedescription is based upon the observation during June and July 2003 ofthree and four year-old plants propagated by the use of rooted cuttingsand growing outdoors at St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A.

-   Botanical classification: Rhus typhina, cv. ‘Bailtiger’.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Dwarf, compact and spreading with a somewhat            flat crown.        -   Size.—Forms a shrub of approximately 1.8 m in height and            approximately 1.8 m width. This can be compared to the            ‘Laciniata’ cultivar that commonly reaches a height of            approximately 2.7 m with spread of approximately 4 to 5 m.-   Branches:    -   -   Stem color.—Young stems commonly are a blend of Yellow-Green            Group 144A and 144B and Grey-Brown Group 199A and 199B.        -   Texture.—Younger stems of approximately one to three years            of age commonly are pubescent and the older wood commonly is            smooth.        -   Leaf scar.—Black Group 202A in coloration.        -   Lenticels.—Greyed-Green Group 197C in coloration.        -   Bark.—Greyed-Green Group 197A in coloration.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate, and pinnately compound.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf margins.—Irregularly incised with deeper incision            towards the base.        -   Leaf size.—Commonly approximately 30 to 68 cm in length.        -   Leaflet size.—Commonly approximately 6.5 to 14 cm in length            and approximately 1.5 to 3.75 cm in width.        -   Rachis texture.—Pubescent.        -   Young foliage.—Leaflet upper surface: Commonly between            Yellow-Green Group 144B and 144C with highlights of            Yellow-Green Group 145C, and Greyed-Purple Group 187C on the            margin primarily when shaded by other leaves. Leaflet under            surface: Commonly between Yellow-Green Group 145A and 145B.            Petiole upper surface: Pubescent and Yellow-Green Group 145A            with highlights of Greyed-Red Group 179A. Petiole under            surface: Pubescent and Yellow-Green Group 145B. Rachis upper            surface: Pubescent and commonly Yellow-Green Group 145A with            highlights of Greyed-Red Group 179A. Rachis under surface:            Yellow-Green Group 145B.        -   Adult foliage in full sun.—Leaflet upper surface: Yellow            Group 7A suffused with Yellow-Green Group 144B and            Yellow-Green Group 145A. Leaflet under surface: Yellow-Green            Group 145B and 145C suffused with Yellow Group 10A. Petiole            upper surface: Pubescent and Greyed-Purple Group 187C.            Petiole under surface: Pubescent and Yellow-Green Group            145B. Rachis upper surface: Pubescent and Greyed-Purple            Group 187C. Rachis under surface: Pubescent and Yellow-Green            Group 145B.        -   Adult foliage at inner location.—Leaflet upper surface:            Yellow-Green Group 144A with some lower leaflets being            suffused with Yellow Group 8A and Greyed-Red Group 179A and            179B and Greyed-Red Group 181A. Leaflet under surface:            Commonly between Yellow-Green Group 144C and 144D. Petiole            upper surface: Pubescent and Greyed-Purple Group 187B.            Petiole under surface: Pubescent and Yellow-Green Group            145B. Rachis upper surface: Pubescent and Greyed-Purple            Group 187B. Rachis under surface: Pubescent and Yellow-Green            Group 145B.        -   Fall foliage.—Leaflet upper surface: Commonly predominantly            yellow, between Yellow Group 12A and 12B, suffused with            Yellow-Green Group 144A and 144B and some Greyed-Red Group            181A and 181B and Greyed-Red Group 184A. This can be            compared to the more orange-red fall coloration of the            ‘Laciniata’ cultivar. Leaflet under surface: Greyed-Yellow            Group 160A suffused with Yellow Group 11B and some Red Group            43A and 43B. Petiole upper surface: Pubescent and            Greyed-Purple Group 184A and Red Group 46A. Petiole under            surface: Pubescent and Yellow-Green Group 145B. Rachis upper            surface: Pubescent and Greyed-Purple Group 184A and Red            Group 46A. Rachis under surface: Pubescent and Yellow-Green            Group 145B.-   Inflorescence: The plants have not flowered during the 2002 and 2003    growing seasons. Accordingly, no seed set has been available for    evaluation during observations to date.-   Hardiness: Can be grown in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 4 to 8.-   Culture: Performs best in a sunny setting and once established is    relatively drought tolerant.-   Disease/pest resistance: Has proven to be relatively free of disease    and insect problems during observations to date.-   Landscape usage: Provides a hardy highly ornamental shrub that    imparts coloration to the landscape. The plant can be grown as a    specimen shrub or as a mass planting. It further can be grown behind    a shrub or perennial border to supply contrasting texture and    coloration.

1. A new and distinct Staghorn Sumac plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a dwarf growth habit, (b)forms attractive chartreuse green new foliage that quickly largelychanges to bright yellow, and in the fall displays predominantly yellowfoliage with some scarlet coloration, (c) is relatively free of insectand disease problems, and (d) is well-suited for growing as adistinctive ornamental shrub in the landscape; substantially asillustrated and described.